May 1, 2027

1He reached [also] Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, 3and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. 5Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number. 6Through Asia Minor. They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. 7When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, 8so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. 9During [the] night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

2serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. 3Know that the LORD is God, he made us, we belong to him, we are his people, the flock he shepherds. 5good indeed is the LORD, His mercy endures forever, his faithfulness lasts through every generation.

1If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

18“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 20Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. 2He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. 3You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. 4Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. 6Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17This I command you: love one another. The World’s Hatred. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. 23Whoever hates me also hates my Father. 24If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But in order that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without cause.’ 26“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. 27And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.